Читать книгу Secret Britain - Sarah Woods - Страница 14

Provence

As the most famous lavender-growing region on the planet, Provence has thousands of fragrant hectares of violet-blue tufts swaying in the warm Mediterranean breeze.

Lavender promotes relaxation.

INFORMATION

LE COUVENT DES MINIMES HÔTEL & SPA t +33 4 92 74 77 77

w www.couventdes minimes-hotelspa.com

Check for seasonal spa offers, such as the two-night package including massage, facial, use of the indoor chromotherapy pool, sauna, laconium, caldarium and relaxation zone, with natural juice drinks and herbal teas. (Prices start at €540.)

FOUR SEASONS RESORT PROVENCE t +33 4 94 39 90 00

w www.fourseasons.com/provence

Feeling tense, stressed or anxious? Then opt for the calming 80-minute full-body massage, which involves unhurried strokes at medium pressure to soothe away tension and strain and unknot tightened muscles (€180).

Pool, Four Seasons Resort Provence.

Although lavender is recognized for its heady perfume, the healing properties of lavender were cherished as far back as 2,500 years ago when ancient Egyptians used it to help induce sleep. Roman soldiers scented the air with it to aid relaxation, and fields of hardy plants soon cropped up across Europe. In medieval and Renaissance Europe, monasteries added lavender to their medicinal herb gardens. Beloved by nobility and the aristocratic classes, lavender was used in a variety of forms by royalty. Lavender tea and jams were favourites of Queen Elizabeth I of England, while in France Louis XIV enjoyed lavender-scented baths and Charles VI demanded lavender-filled pillows. By the mid-19th century, lavender was considered a cure-all herb due to its therapeutic healing qualities and sweet-smelling naturopathic powers.

Stimulate the Senses

In Provence, lavender is the hallmark of the region’s picturesque terrain, when in early summer the horizon fills with a dazzling display of indigo-blue-mauve hues.

Four Seasons Resort Provence.

An overwhelming natural scent dominates the warm, lazy breeze as the locals pick a few bunches to flavour herbal teas and scent their homes. Farmers harvest crops of lavender for organic oil for use in soap, face wash, shower gel, bath salts and hand and body lotion. As a herbal medicine, lavender is often used in natural spa therapies for its soothing, relaxing properties and calming effect. In aromatherapy massages, constituents of lavender oil can help to alleviate anxiety, insomnia, depression and hypertension. By adding a few drops to base oils, lavender can be massaged into the temples, shoulders or neck to aid the relief of tension headaches and ease away worries and stress.

Natural Wellness Traditions

At Le Couvent des Minimes Hôtel & Spa, Mane en Provence, a sumptuous range of wellness therapies focuses on indulgence and Mother Nature, marrying the scents and fresh produce of the Mediterranean – such as lavender, lemon, verbena, olives and honey – with the highest professional standards of French hospitality. This handsome spa stays loyal to the luxurious l’Occitane beauty and wellness brand and the natural well-being traditions of Provence.

Upscale l’Occitane has remained faithful to this landscape, where its products were conceived. Using only the finest lavender oils derived from freshly picked, locally grown flowers, the spa prides itself on delivering the ultimate luxury aromatherapy massage – unhurried, leisurely and with a strong connection to the natural landscape. Tucked away in the rolling hills of the picturesque Provençal countryside, this former convent dating from 1613 ensures spa-goers benefit from the utmost in quiescence and serenity. Mediterranean light and colours envelop this quaint boutique hotel and its peaceful spa, which is just a short drive from the French Alps to the north and Aix-en-Provence to the south.

Another lavish spa property can be found in the heartlands of lavender-scented Provençal meadows. In grand style, the Four Seasons Resort Provence at Terre Blanche is a temple to modern luxury blessed with space and calm. A 3,000-sq m (32,291-sq ft) spa housed in a two-storey ochre villa comes with a column-flanked black granite pool and has every conceivable luxury. For the ultimate in pampering that’ll transport you to heaven try the decadent two-hour Provençal Escape, in which French olive oil infused with lavender buds is used. This is an ethereal delight.

3 things you must not miss

1 Musée de la Lavande This museum in Coustellet outlines the historical importance of Provence’s lavender industry, complete with video presentation, photographs and lots of sweet-smelling artefacts.www.thelavendermuseum.com

2 Canoeing Canoeing on the scenic River Ceze offers some interesting rapids on a gentle stretch suitable for beginners and family groups. www.ceze-canoe.com

3 Caves, Aven d’Orgnac These caves are worth a visit, with several huge chambers packed with stalagmites and stalactites. www.orgnac.com